Repeal of estate tax would benefit about 20 SDGOP donors

What the...? Hypocrisy still greases SDGOP politics.

House Republicans are expected to bring their proposal to repeal the federal estate tax to a vote in the week of April 13. Repeal would reduce revenues by $269 billion over the next decade and worsen inequality because it would benefit only a small number of the nation’s wealthiest estates. How small? See the table below, which estimates how many estates in each state would benefit from repeal in 2016. (The note explains our methodology, based on IRS and Joint Committee on Taxation [JCT] data.) [Off the Charts Blog]

Kristi Noem's ALEC handlers are putting the screws to her.

The US House passed a budget resolution that could make major changes in how Medicare operates. South Dakota Congresswoman Kristi Noem says the plan would expand means testing as a way of covering costs. Noem says the changes would not really take effect for some time. Senior citizens can sign up for Medicare when they turn 65, but starting in 2024, that would increase by two months a year, eventually moving up to age 67. In that same time, the plan would change into a voucher program, where seniors could buy coverage on a health insurance exchange. [WNAX]

Noem sure spends a lot of time with men who are not her husband.

The backlog of maintenance work on national park properties in South Dakota is more than $47 million, according to a report by the National Park Service. Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., pinned the blame on the White House for diverting more resources to buying land rather than using the finds to take care of existing National Park Service locations. "With national treasures like Mount Rushmore, Wind Cave, and the Badlands in need of repair, we have to get serious about addressing the maintenance backlog," Noem said. "We need the administration to recognize the constraints of hardworking taxpayers and reassess its priorities." [Sioux Falls Argus Leader]

Of course her Wall Drug donors are leaning on her.

Individuals working for Sanford Health gave Noem $16,750, while employees of Wall Drug — whose president, Ted Hustead, was Noem’s finance director —gave her $14,000. [Rapid City Journal]

Too funny.

Helping middle class families take advantage of the benefits of the health care law, like ensuring millions of seniors and people with disabilities have access to more affordable prescription medications and free preventive services through Medicare, should be a top priority for lawmakers in Washington. Yet instead of working to fix the law, Congresswoman Noem and her tea party friends have voted to repeal the health care law more than 40 times. They even shut down the government to prevent new benefits, like saving seniors money on prescription drugs and preventative services, from taking effect. [South Dakota Democratic Party]

Save Medicare! Fire Noem. Get Your Free Sticker Today!